Wednesday, July 24, 2019

WWU - PT Edition #2

  • At the five week mark of PT, Amanda reevaluated how I was doing compared to how I was when I first began physical therapy and I have made some really good progress, so yay me!  She said it was evident that I was being compliant with my exercises and that was nice to hear because YOU GUYS I'M DOING THE SAME THING TWICE A DAY EVERY DAY.  But I am doing them because Amanda's got a plan to get me back to normal, so I'm game for whatever she gives me.
  • I was getting pretty bored with my solo PT exercises, but I've started listening to podcasts so that helps me get through them.  And that's my only complaint about PT...I bore myself.  I'm scheduled to go through August and then I'll have another reevaluation. 
  • Guess what Amanda said I could do???  Return to my workouts!!  Well, sort of.  She is concerned about the speed of the classes and how I may not take the time to get myself set correctly in zero spine, and she's right about that;  so for the next four weeks I'm going to have a private session with Coach Jared once a week to work on what I can and cannot do in order to keep my spine happy. 
  • While I am thrilled to get part of my old life back, I realize that I am not fully healed from this herniated disc, not by a long shot if the pain I feel is any indication, so I know that whatever I get to do is good, and to try and leave my expectations in the parking lot.  What I can do tomorrow will build, most likely slowly, on what I can do in a month.
  • Oh yeah, there's the whole issue of my left side being weak.  It's noticeable in PT so I'm sure it will be noticeable at the gym.  Good thing I have coaches who can help with that, right?
  • My new schedule will be PT on Tuesday afternoons and private gym coaching on Thursday afternoons, with tomorrow being my first day back at the gym, yippee!  I need to go find my water bottle - I stashed it out of sight months ago because it was making me sad to see it.  Now?  It's my happy water bottle because it means I'm back at the gym!

28 comments:

  1. This is all such good news!!! Now don't pull a Wendy and overdo it! LOL!

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  2. Yay for you!!! Take it easy and go slow. I'm curious, do you think all the jumping and the new and different moves you were doing at the gym had anything to do with your herniated disc? I'm asking because last year in Zumba there was a move where we jump-crossed our legs then came out of the cross in a hard stomp (that probably makes no sense) and I was so proud of myself that I could finally do that move, but it really jacked up my hip. I think that jarring motion is something I just can't do anymore so it's all low impact stuff for me from now on. Just wondering if you think that had anything to do with your injury.

    Glad you are on the mend!! :)

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    1. Jill, I do think that the jumping/hopping I started doing in January exacerbated what was probably a little disc problem that I didn't even feel into total herniation. The last thing I did at the gym was jump rope - a lot of it. I have a feeling that sent me over the edge.

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  3. I am so happy for you! With the high heat and humidity around here (and my stupid, stupid hamstring that I keep thinking is healed and then it hurts), I was a little lazy with workouts last week. Also, being off and wanting to just be at the beach and NOTHING ELSE probably contributed lol. Anyway, you inspire me to get back at it! If herniated disc Shelley can work out, I have zero excuses!

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    1. Hey it's OK to take some time off from working out, especially in the hot summer. Just know I'll only be working out once a week so that's all you have to do as well. :)

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  4. This is awesome news, Shelley! I'm so happy for you! :) And it sounds like you have great support in place to help you ease back in to exercising while still taking care of your spine. I think working with a trainer at first is great, just so you BOTH know exactly where you're at and what you can and can't yet do. I can't wait to hear how your first training session goes tomorrow!

    Did your PT ever mention swimming as an option? I can't recall if you said that or not. But when I was recovering from spinal surgery (not the same thing, I know!) swimming was recommended as being therapeutic and low-impact so just wondering if that's come up at all.

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    1. Thanks, Anne! I am really impressed by how well your workouts are going (I see you via Insta) and I sure hope to begin my good workouts soon. PT hasn't mentioned swimming; that might be nice but I really don't have access to a pool.

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    2. Thank you! As you know, the secret is to find something you enjoy and people who will help you stay motivated :) I hope your first session went well last week!

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  5. I thought about swimming too.

    (I am the one with back history also.)

    And I look for classes that do not fly around so much, that are more centered/methodical.

    I have found them.

    A stations class where we go around a circle/circuit of different moves. (My college son and daughter used to go with me and were shocked at the level of the workout, he puked his first time there, but it was very lower back friendly.)

    Free weight classes where there is more structure.

    It would be a good opportunity for your trainer to offer a different type of class using some of the same types of moves. But no impact, better form, lower back friendly.

    There are lots of people out there who would jump at opportunity to do that type of workout.

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  6. SUCH good news, Shelley! I'm sure it will feel good to just be able to do SOMETHING! I was able to run a whole mile yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks, and, even though it was sloooowwwww, my heart was so happy just to be out there and moving. And I know Coach Jared will take good care of you because he'll want you back to torture on the regular, right? Enjoy, enjoy!

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    1. I'm so happy for you, getting that mile done - woohoo!!! It's good to be back doing something you love, isn't it?

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  7. That sounds awesome. Take it slow, and don’t be compliant at the gym if your head says, “this might not be a good idea”.

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    1. That is a BIG thing I have to work on. Old me was willing to try almost everything. New me cannot afford to do that.

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  8. Ahh, I am so excited for you! That is great you are going to be working one on one with a trainer and getting back at it. I hope you have a great first session tomorrow :)

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  9. This great news I'm happy for you! Having said that just listen to your body and don't over do.

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  10. Woohoo!! That is some pretty amazing news!!!! Have fun!!!

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  11. That's great news! It's so nice when our hard work starts showing progress I'm so happy for you!

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  12. That's awesome news, Shelley!! Your hard work is paying off, great job!

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  13. That's great! How did the first workout go? It's great you will have coaches with you to help you get back to it safely.

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  14. Yay for return to exercise! You are so fortunate to have a great PT. Take it slow and your body will tell you if you push it too hard. The coach will be good for you, particularly since you have weakness still. I lost about 15% of my nerve function in my left leg to this day and there are just things that are still really hard, like balancing on one leg, but at least it doesn't hurt to do that. And you adapt because there isn't really a choice.

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